On 10 July 2025, at the AI for Good Global Summit held at Palexpo in Geneva, Mr. Yu Xiaohui, President of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), delivered opening remarks that underscored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He emphasized the critical need for a globally coordinated and standardized framework to assess and enhance AI readiness across sectors and regions.


The key takeaways from his address were as follows:

1. AI as a General-Purpose Technology: Artificial Intelligence is rapidly integrating across sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, transportation, and agriculture, fundamentally reshaping how industries operate and innovate.
2. Open-Source Ecosystems Empower Access: The growth of open-source AI tools is lowering technological barriers, allowing developers, researchers, and businesses—regardless of geography—to contribute to and benefit from AI-driven innovation.
3. The Urgency for Inclusive AI Development: While AI holds great promise, developing countries often lack foundational resources to fully engage. There is a pressing need to ensure global equity in AI preparedness and access.
4. Need for Standardised Assessment Tools: Mr. Yu emphasized the importance of creating a universal framework to assess AI readiness, helping countries and sectors understand their current capabilities and plan actionable steps.
5. ITU's Role in Shaping Global AI Readiness: The ITU is leading efforts to develop a comprehensive AI readiness assessment system by leveraging its technological expertise and global reach, addressing sector-specific challenges worldwide.
6. China’s “AI Plus Action Plan” as a Case Study: Launched in 2024, China’s AI Plus Action Plan promotes AI integration across industries, encouraging innovation in products, services, and business models. It is positioned as a model for others aiming to digitally transform traditional sectors.
7. Global Collaboration is Key: Mr. Yu concluded by calling for deeper international collaboration, expressing CAICT’s commitment to working with ITU and global partners to accelerate inclusive, responsible AI adoption.

(Reporting by Peter Maundu, CUTS International, Geneva)

On 10 July 2025, the AI for Good Global Summit at Palexpo, Geneva, featured a compelling session led by Lydia Logan, Vice President of Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM. The discussion explored how generative AI is redefining education, workforce readiness, and daily life, with a focus on equipping young professionals with evolving skills and promoting ethical, inclusive AI literacy across all sectors.


Key Takeaways were:

1. Acceleration of Entry-Level Tasks Through AI: Tasks that previously required hours or days—such as compiling background research, drafting memos, and policy briefings—can now be done in minutes using generative AI. This shift is redefining the skill baseline for new professionals.
2. Evolving Expectations for Early Career Skills: Entry-level roles now demand capabilities once associated with mid-career experience, including executive writing, research validation, and critical thinking. The ability to assess and refine AI-generated outputs is becoming a core competency.
3. Teaching Responsible AI Use, Not Avoidance: Rather than prohibiting AI tools, educators and institutions must guide students in verifying citations, applying judgment, and understanding ethical AI use—ensuring digital tools augment rather than replace foundational skills.
4. From Users to Builders: The distinction between “users” and “builders” is narrowing. With tools becoming more accessible, individuals across disciplines can now create personalized assistants, automate workflows, and engage in basic coding to enhance productivity.
5. Relevance Across Sectors: AI fluency is increasingly essential in sectors like marketing, sports, and entertainment. Students must learn to apply AI in real-world contexts, from data analytics and audience segmentation to performance prediction and creative content generation.
6. Broadening AI Education Beyond STEM: Even non-STEM students should understand coding fundamentals and how AI models function. Exposure to sector-specific applications—such as AI in sports tournaments or music fan engagement—can build contextual learning and relevance.
7. Human-Centric AI Philosophy: The future of work involves AI assisting—not replacing—humans. A “ready society” ensures responsible and ethical use of AI, with clear governance, widespread digital fluency, and emphasis on human oversight and judgment.
8. AI for Economic Stability and Productivity: In countries facing population decline and stagnant GDP, widespread AI upskilling can help maintain economic productivity with fewer people in the workforce. This illustrates AI’s potential to support macroeconomic resilience.
9. Inclusive Growth Through Collaboration: The momentum of AI adoption across industries highlights the need for cross-sector cooperation, inclusive education programmes, and shared responsibility in preparing society for an AI-augmented future.

(Reporting by Peter Maundu, CUTS International, Geneva)